Mirror's Edge

For people who don't want to read the whole thing, here's a basic summary of my opinion of this title:

Pros:

- It's a new experience.
- The first few levels and last few are pretty fun provided you can put up with dying quite a lot.
- When the combat and gameplay do work together it is fun.
- The visuals are nice!
- The music/sound is quite good.
- There are "that is SO cool!" moments that almost make up for the moments of frustration.
- The levels are usually pretty open with multiple ways to approach a problem.
- The story isn't bad!

Cons:

- Combat system is hard to handle and quite often unavoidable in the later levels.
- Too much combat considering the system is flawed.
- Dodgy level design in some parts.
- High difficulty even on Normal, although Easy does alleviate this somewhat.
- Story could be better.
- You get railroaded at times - you don't always have multiple path choices.
- You can get lost quite easily at times and the in-game guide system isn't up to much when you do.

Things to keep in mind: you can pick guns off the floor with Y, which helps immensely. If you're not an uber FPS fan then play on Easy, I got owned on Normal, and even on Easy be prepared to die a lot.

Basically my advice is don't pay the full price for this game like I did. Wait for it to drop to say £20-25 or so, it might be more worth it then. I wouldn't say this game is worth the £35 or so I paid. I know people hate hearing this, but it most likely isn't going to be as fun (or as long lasting) as you think it will be. Or, rent it first!

So to the review. I've played all of the full game having loved the demo - so much that I pre-ordered after playing the demo about 25 times. I really thought I'd just find it enjoyable, face each challenge with good-hearted calm and just love the experience.

I have written this review to warn you that this game may not always be like this, or be as long lasting as you might think. The main game literally lasts 3 hours at most, including times when you play the level through for the first time and get stuck. There are race modes that you can do if you have 1337 sk1llz and can complete each level in record time (speed runs of levels are unlocked at game completion), or just want to see how fast you can do it, which gives a little replay value. I completed it within 2 days of buying. The demo level is the most enjoyable in the game as far as I've seen as well. Level design is not as good as you might expect, in fact in some areas it's downright poor.

You can get very lost and disorientated at times, mainly when you play levels for the first time. What makes this worse is the fact that you are CONSTANTLY getting SHOT AT. You don't get much breathing room at all. I think this is supposed to give you a sense of excitement and thrill (and it might for some) but for me personally it just becomes irritating and distracting a lot of the time. Especially when you get boxed in with literally 4-6 guys with machine guns wailing on you while you scrabble around for the one route to escape that the designers decided to put in. Yes that's right, in some areas you are comprehensively railroaded into taking one action, multiple paths be damned. You can use B to get a rough pointer to where you should be and it is helpful sometimes, but when you're stuck it doesn't really pull through (it points you at your goal location, not necessarily at the next correct wall/object/whatever to use to move on).

When you DO get 5 seconds to enjoy the acrobatics without being panicked by weapons fire, it can be great. But the way some parts of the levels are designed, at least for me, make the whole experience feel laborious rather than fun a lot of the time. This mainly occurs in the middle of the game, Chapters 4-6, where you must perform a series of Bond-esque but not very fun or practical tasks that will leave you grating your teeth. The game picks up again towards the end in chapters 7-9.

The combat is often clumsy, frankly. Normally the only viable strategy I found is to run INTO the gunfire and try and press Y at the correct moment before he kills you. Then I use the gun to kill the other guys, if I'm lucky. I have to forget the acrobatic wall running and leaping off to kick the guy and take his gun like we were shown in the videos. I find it is rarely practical to try anything fancy and they seem to keep aim on you even when you're wall running as if they were expecting you to do this and it doesn't phase them. If you try anything you tend to die rather quickly.

The storyline isn't very gripping, but it's not bad. The cutscenes are done in a weird half anime style that I don't personally find very appealing, but it's tolerable. You care what happens to Faith I guess. Most of the acting is pretty good, except for one character, Jacknife, who is awful. There are a couple of twists but I found that I saw them coming. It could be worse but it could be better.

Don't get me wrong, this game is far from awful, but it's also not as good as you might expect from all the hype. Not full price good anyway. It's not an epic game. I would recommend it to you but not until the price drops.

Are you a masochist?

Have you played more first person shooters then you can shake a preverbial stick at and fancy a change?

Have you always wanted to wear womens cloths?

If you answered 'YES' to any of the above then this is the game for YOU. But there is only one way to play a game like this, so repeat after me:
'I -insert name here- do solemly sware not to use a firearm during the coarse of playing mirrors edge, or at any point set the difficulty below medium, because easy is for Pussies'

By making this pledge you will find the game more challenging and more importantly earn youself an ACHIEVEMENT (<-----So needs girlfriend). Off the bat you will notice the crisp clean visuals and soothing ambiance, as you wisk your way from roof top to roof top, enjoying the emersive feel of your caracters movements and vocalisations(farcry 2 take note), making you feel like your literally in her shoes (and cool shoes they are too). Enjoy this time of tranquility while it lasts, for t'is short lived, soon you will come face to face with... The Rozzers 'OH NO'(so not using capitals to create hightened sense of drama). From this point on you will be running faster then games developers run from Uwe Boll. If you are to survive, you must learn the art of disarming, learn to spoil your enemys prostate with a sliding kick, and later on when you meet the persuit rozzers (or as i said at the time 'oh no, NINJAS') learn to run away.

In short the game is a pure pulse pounder, a must for all armchair addrenaline junkies. Propare to spend alot of your time chacing faster times in the 'speed run' and 'time trial' before realising what a geek you've become. But be warned, as much as i love this game, it is not perfect. The game is not an open world, but this alone means nothing as open world games can be weaker then liniar ones(Assasins Creed, ArmA, Farcry 2). You will Die, a lot, and some times it will not seem like its your fault, but checkpoints are well placed, so this is not so bad and besides, its meant to be challenging.

Every true gamer should play this game, buy it, borrow it, rent it, steal it (no wait, scratch that). Love it or hate it, its a change from the norm and a welcome one at that.

Signed: A masocist

Mirror's Edge (Xbox 360)
This game is simply amazing. The dynamic is like no other game I have played. It really is about the rush of escapism, the thrill of running and keeping up momentum. Forget shooting and cover (although guns can be snatched off enemies and used), run for your life instead. You feel invincible as you traverse the city, jumping from rooftops to cranes, down storm drains, up levels of offices and scaffholding. The motion of first person is very fluid and the controls are straightfoward enough. You have to time your jumps and roll into landings from greater heights, which you master over time.
I have not completed the game yet, but it is quite short according to reviews. That's just the nature of the game in that you are always on the move. However, there is massive replay potential in time trials, where you can complete individual speed runs and beat your times. It's about finding the route which will maintain speed.
The graphics are bright and vibrant in a neo futuristic world. Simple but effect design. Every building has a different colour or theme. Using the Unreal Engine 3 (which was used for Gears of War), there have added new lighting dynamics which enhance the style.
There's a storyline to follow (cutscenes are told in manga animation style and during the chapters). But this is all about the immersive, addictive gameplay. Expect shades of Half Life 2 (when being chased, you really feel that the enemies are'nt far behind) and Portal (with various innovative ways to find the way out). Perhaps even some Tomb Raider (swinging on poles and shimmying along ledges). But this game is still original and shines with brilliance. I won't look at First person games the same again. EA are planning a trilogy.
If you like the dynamic gameplay and the challenge of escaping intact, you'll love this.